Canada is a beautiful country and it has a lot to offer. From beautiful sceneries to really nice people, from well-defined seasons to free cultural events, you have a lot to discover. Canada is really big — about the same size as the whole European Union. We are the second-largest country in the world by total area. Most of this land is wilderness or countryside — with a population of about 35.6 million, cities are spread out far and wide and it can take hours or even days to travel to different cities by car.

Canada is a nation of emigrants. The country was originally inhabited by the Aboriginal people and the immigration started from the French and British colonization in the 17th century. No wonder that Canada has two official languages: English and French. Furthermore, the increase in immigration throughout the years has created a pluralist Canada with its almost 40% non-British and non-French population. Now, Canada is home to more than 200 other mother tongues including Mandarin, Cantonese, Punjabi, and Spanish.

We also recommend you a magazine “The Immigrant”. You can find it at subway stations and bus stops. Here is their link: http://canadianimmigrant.ca/

There are also several other resources that you can take advantage of as a new immigrant, for example the Welcome Package: http://welcomepackcanada.com/

In April 2016, a documentary made by Robert Cohen on “Being Canadian” was released. It is an interesting piece that tries to answer the question on what it means to be Canadian. If you have a chance, you should watch it: http://beingcanadianmovie.com/

Weather: You are almost certain to experience cold, snowy winters and hot summers, with short transitional seasons. If you come from a mild or warm climate, the bitter cold of a Canadian winter is sure to surprise you. It is difficult to describe how cold -25°C can feel, but fear not, the good news is that with the right clothing, you will be OK.

Diversity: Multiculturalism is part of the Canadian ethos, and central to national policy. In any major city, as well as many rural communities for that matter, you will encounter myriad languages, religions and cultures. You do not need to let go of your culture or values after moving to Canada, but you do need to evolve so that you can successfully adjust and have the greatest chance of achieving success. Keeping an open mind will benefit you.

Tipping: You may come from a country where workers in the service and hospitality sectors earn a guaranteed livable wage with additional benefits, and therefore tipping may not be a part of your culture. In Canada, bartenders and servers generally earn minimum wage, on the expectation that they will earn tips to compensate, and staff usually have to “tip out” other staff (such as those in the kitchen), with a portion of their sales. So, unless the service is poor, please tip. The standard tip is 15% of the total bill (or 20% for highly knowledgeable, attentive service), or a dollar per drink (a couple of dollars would suffice for a round).

Smoking: It is illegal to smoke in public places, such as restaurants, stores, subway, bus stops, terminals, bars, offices, hospitals and other places of employment. This also includes public or shared areas of apartment buildings and rental complexes. If you smoke, the only places you can now do so are in your own living space and in the great outdoors.

Health Care: Healthcare in Canada is delivered through a publicly-funded system, which is mostly free at the point of use and has most services provided by private entities. Healthcare, though paid for using some federal funds, is administered by the provinces. A health card is issued by the Provincial Ministry of Health to each individual who enrolls for the program, and everyone receives the same level of care.

Driving License: A driver’s licence from your home country may not be valid in Canada, or you will need to complete paperwork in order to get its equivalent in Canada. Licenses are awarded by the provinces, not the federal government, and individual provinces have their own rules and testing procedures. Different countries around the world have particular agreements with the provinces.

Taxation: Under Canada’s decentralized federal system, taxes are levied at multiple levels. Income taxes are collected by both the federal and provincial governments. Depending on your status and terms of employment, you may be entitled to a tax refund at the end of the fiscal year. Sales taxes vary between the provinces, from 5% in Alberta to 14.975% in Quebec. In Ontario, the HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) is 13%. These are added at the point of sale, not on the price tag, so be aware that an item advertised as $10 in Ontario will cost you 11.30 including taxes. The Canada Revenue Agency is the government institution that administers tax laws for most provinces and territories. Their site is http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/menu-eng.html

Lining up: Newcomers find it strange when they see people properly lining up from schools to bus stops. Lining up is listed alongside punctuality and frequent apologies as a cherished Canadian practice. There is actually an institution called Canadian School of Protocol and Etiquette where new residents and young international students learn how to and where to lineup and how to maintain one’s proper place in the line.

A Toronto Star article reads “We’re aggressively polite: We’re so polite we turn statements into questions, eh? You will also hear “sorry” an awful lot — whether you want to or not. The word is not only used to express remorse or an apology for bad actions. It’s also used when: you bump into someone, you interrupt, you sneeze, or you express a slightly contrary opinion. Don’t confuse “sorry” with a promise to stop the offensive behaviour. Usually, the word is all you are going to get” And it added: “Except when we play hockey: The niceties end during sporting events. It is appropriate to always say Sorry

You would think that professional sports players who get paid millions of dollars would have no reason to beat each other up — you would be wrong. You would think that fans who had just spent $50-plus dollars to go to a hockey game wouldn’t want to waste their time fighting with people who support the other team. You would also be wrong. Even pickup games (casual games played by friends at local ice rinks) can get heated. You are warned.